Bifidobacterium are the shy probiotic LAB (lactic-acid
bacteria) superstars. Although you need more than one type of probiotic microbe
to be healthy, these probiotic microbes play
critical roles in your health. Most people simply refer to them as "bifidobacteria" or "bifido", so I'll use the names interchangeably.

I've even seen them referred to as "Bifidobacillus".

How can bacteria be shy, you ask? Well, they technically can't, but I think of them as being shy because they don't live out in the open. You won't find them widespread naturally in food and drink products that are exposed to air, such as spreads and dressings. Bifidobacteria are anaerobic, so they can't tolerate oxygen-rich environments.

Scientifically, Bifidobacterium is a
genus of Gram-positive, anaerobic, non-sporulating, usually branched rod-shaped
bacteria. More info about genus and classification of microbes can be found here.

Is Bifidobacterium Safe?

The bifidos were originally identified in the feces of
a breast-fed infant. These good bacteria are some of the first microbes to take up residence in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract of newborns, and they dominate the intestines in
breast-fed babies. This is one reason why the status of probiotics in the
mother in pregnancy is very important! As babies age and are weaned, the bifidobacteria numbers and species
change as the diet changes. Typically, their numbers continue to decrease with age.

Bifidobacterium is on the European QPS (Qualified Presumption of Safety) list and is generally regarded as safe.

What Probiotic Actions Do They Have?

Bifidobacterium,
along with Lactobacillus,are some of the most well-known
probiotics and are an important part of your flora. These good bacteria are
lactic-acid producing bacteria (LAB), just like Lactobacillus, and they both produce vitamins, bacteriocins (antibacterial
chemicals) and antibiotic-like substances. Both have significant health benefits on the
digestive and immune systems, as discussed in greater detail here.

The significance of this is that acetic acid
is more effective at reducing the growth of yeasts and molds than is lactic
acid. Acetic acid can also be used as energy by the human body. Producing both
lactic and acetic acids and other beneficial compounds makes bifidobacteria the probiotic most
qualified to be in the vagina and urogenital tract, where yeasts and opportunistic
bacteria can cause distress, and also in the colon, where the opportunity for
disease to flourish is greater because fecal transit time slows.

This probiotic speciesalso produces
ethanol and other acids, can produce vitamins and can help with lactose intolerance.

Some members of this species have a beneficial effect on us just by being within us because theycan cause immune
system changes. They can help increase immune function in some cases and also have anti-inflammatory actions in other cases.

Additionally, the mere presence of some of these probiotics can cause other microbes that live in the
intestines to perform helpful duties that they otherwise wouldn’t do. (Similar
to how some kids will behave better and be more helpful when visiting
grandparents are present!) This suggests that bifido can communicate with other beneficial bacteria to
keep us healthy.

How Many Bifidobacteria Are There?

To date, about 32 different bifido species have been identified, although most of them are very similar in their genetic makeup. As mentioned, they are found in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the female vagina and urogenital tract. They are found in the highest numbers in the colon (large intestine), although they only amount to 3-6% of the total flora in adult feces.

Bifido Species and Strains You May Encounter

Different species and even strains in those species have different effects. Some of the Bifidobacterium species and strains you may encounter on labels are:

Where Can You Find the Bifidos?

If you want a simple probiotic formula that has only bifido species in
it, a good supplement choice is Primadophilus Probifia Pearls by
Nature's Way. It contains 1 billion CFU per capsule of B. longum BB536, B. bifidum, B. breve and B. infantis.

A product that contains 30 billion CFU of 6 strains of shelf-stable Bifidobacterium (2-B. lactis strains, B. bifidum, B. breve, B. infantis and B. longum) is Ultimate Flora RTS Senior Care Probiotic from Renew Life. It is gluten- and dairy-free at can be found at

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